Seniors Prepare for Showcases in Art Show

by Maya Koeppen ‘17

Spring has sprung, and so has preparation for the art department’s annual art show, which will take place on April 27. This show will be particularly special to third and fourth year art students, many of whom will participate in senior shows. Senior showcases present the cumulative work of students from across all art classes, including ceramics, photography, studio, and digital art.

Artists generally start by sketching out what they want their showcase space to look like. In order to solidify their spot in the show, artist were asked to submit this sketch to an art teacher by February 23.

From there, they were assigned spacing based on amount of work produced, years of art classes taken, and personal preference. Two-dimensional (2D) students are given anywhere from two to four panels of space, while three-dimensional (3D) students were assigned glass showcases.

Mixed-medium artists are also given the option of having both panels, and a stool or desk. Layout and spacing—important components of any show—can prove difficult for many students who have to be very selective when it comes to choosing what to include or not include in their display.

“I am most excited to have all my work together and in one place on display,” said Adv. Photo student Julia Knipe.

Next, artists must pull together old work and make plans for new work. This includes dry mounting and mating old work in addition to creating new pieces as necessary. The number of pieces in a show varies depending on the artist. Some artists choose to have a common theme threaded throughout their work, while others organize their work randomly.

“There isn’t necessarily a theme in my work, it’s more of just things that I enjoy that occur in the pieces,” said Ceramics 2 student Karen White.

As the process comes to a close, students create name plates to go along with their display. Name plates are a big part of any show, as they usually highlight an underlying theme in the show and are unique to each artist.

Lastly, students prepare an artist statement to accompany their work. The statement should speak to the work presented in the show as well as their progression as an artist throughout their high school career.

“The purpose of an artist statement is to clarify what your work means to you as an artist— what your main themes and inspirations are and what you are trying to say—and then to provide a pathway into your work for the viewer,” said Studio Art teacher Michele Spangle.

Artists then await the evening of April 19, when they will put up their displays after school for their peers to see the following day. On the day of the show, students will sit with their displays to answer any questions about their artwork.

During this time, artists will also have the option of bringing their sketchbook to work on. A later show for the public will occur from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., where there will be light refreshments as well as live music.

“I am so excited for the show,” said Studio and Digital Art student Colleen Reich. “I’ve only been doing art for about two years and have never been able to show to such a large audience. I’m really hoping people enjoy my work and see how much fun I had doing them. Art is my passion and being able to show what I’ve created is such an honor.”